johnston



Jan. 15, 1963 J. 1 JOHNSTON WELL COMPLETION TooL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1954 INVEN TOR. JAMES L. ./OHATO/V By Auen c. //A/.STON ML, ML( Lua-M 4free/uffa o l. AHA-m3 x4 24 3 .1

PIE- 1 Jan. l5, 1963 J. 1 JOHNSTON WELL COMPLETION Toor.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Feb. 5, 1954 DEV/CE my A34, if

IN V EN TOR. JAMES .JOL//VST/V BY JNSTN 1:1 Elfi United States Patent Oiice Re. 25,323 Reissued Jan. 15, 1963 Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in original patent but forms no part of this reissue specifi cation; matter printed in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to a well completion tool and more particularly to a tool whereby any of a number of operations may be carried out in the well without requiring the removal of the tool from the well.

In the prior practice it was customary to employ a different tool for each of the operations of perforating, testing of formation pressure under either flowing or static conditions, squeeze cementing, acid-izing, fracturing the formation by the hydrofrac process, or changing a bottom hole ow bean. Each change of tool required withdrawing the tubing string from the well, changing the tool, and then reinserting the tubing string.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a tool whereby any or all of the above operations may be carried out without removing the Etool] tubing .string from the well.

A further object of the invention is to provide a well l tool having an inner mandrel removable through the tubing'string by a wire line whereby the tool may be converted from one type of well operation to another merely by removing the inner mandrel and substituting a different mandrel of the proper configuration for the operation to be performed.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplied in the following description and illustrated by way of exampe in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the upper portion of a device embodying the principles of my invention.

FIG. 2 shows the lower portion of the tool, certain portions thereof being shown in section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the outer mandrel showing the J-slot for cooperation with the pin mounted in the housing.

FIG. 4 is a sectgonal view of a modification of the device shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 5 shows a modified form of retrieving member for cooperation with the modification shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, there is disclosed a well tool having a housing generally indicated at 10, having upper and lower portions 11 and 12 threadedly fastened one to the other. An outer mandrel, generally indicated at 13, is slidably received within the tubular housing 11. The upper or Outer end of the mandrel 13 is threadedly fastened to an upwardly and outwardly tapered slip cone 14. The upper end of the slip cone is thread-edly engaged with the lower end of a tubing string indicated at 15. The upper end of the upper housing portion 11 is counterbored as shown at 16 to receive therewithin a packing retaining member 17a and an annular rubber packing 17, held in place by a packing nut 18 threaded into the upper end of the counterbore 16. The lower end of upper housing portion 11 is similarly counterbored, as shown at 21, to receive therein a packing retainer member 23 and an annular rubber packing 22 held in place by the upper portion of the lower housing member 12. A plurality of slips 19 are fastened to the upper end of the packing nut 18 and slidably engage the tapered surface of the slip cone 14.

The housing has an enlarged central bore 20 between the two packing members, which slidably receives an enlarged portion 24 on the outer surface of the mandrel 13. The length of the enlarged portion 20 of the housing is greater than the enlarged portion 24 of the mandrel to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the mandrel with respect to the housing.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the enlarged portion 24 of the mandrel has cut into the surface thereof a J-shaped slot 25. The housing has a bore through the wall thereof containing therein a ball 26, said ball being retained in said bore by a retaining member 27 threaded into the bore. The retaining member 27 forces the ball to extend inwardly of the inner surface of the housing into the J-slot 25 in the mandrel, thereby interconnecting the housing and mandrel for limited longitudinal movement When] when the ball is in the vertical portion of the J-slct, and locking said mandrel and said housing against relative longitudinal movement, when the mandrel is turned so that the ball is in the horizontal portion of the J-slot.

Lateral test ports 28 in the outer mandrel 13 provide communication between the interior and exterior of the mandrel. The test ports 2S are normally closed by the annular packing sleeve 22 when the mandrel is in its upper or extended position relative to the housing, and are adapted to be lowered out of said annular packing 22, when the mandrel is lowered relative to the housing to its retracted position, at which time fluid from within the housing is allowed to pass from the housing through the ports to within the outer mandrel 13.

The lower or outer end of the housing has attached thereto a tubular sub 29 which in turn is fastened to the upper end of a packer assembly 30. Attached to the lower end of the packer assembly 30 is a perforated well screen 31 and similarly fastened to the lower end of the perforated screen is a gun perforator 32 having a plurality of preforating guns 33 mounted therein. Fixed to the lower end of the gun perforator is a ring squib 34. An electrical conductor 35 extends upwardly from said tiring squib through the perforated well screen and the packer assembly, and terminates at its upper end in an electrical terminal 36 supported by a spider 37 mounted in the tubular sub 29.

An inner tubular mandrel, generally indicated at 38, comprising an upper portion 39, an intermediate portion 40 and a lower portion 41, is adapted to be detachably secured within the outer tubular mandrel 13. The lower or inner end of the outer tubular mandrel 13 has a portion 4Z of reduced internal diameter adjacent its lower end. Said reduced portion carries on its inner surface a plurality of annular sealing rings 0r O-rings 43 for sealing engagement with the inner mandrel. The upper end of the inner mandrel has an enlarged head portion and similary carries a plurality of O-rings 45 in sealing engagement with the inner surface of the outer tubular mandrel 13.

The means connecting the two mandrels together comprise a plurality of lateral bores 46 through the walls of the inner tubular mandrel, and a plurality of balls 47 mounted one in each of said lateral bores 46. The balls 47 are adapted to seat in an annular groove or seat 48 provided in the inner surface of the outer tubular man' drel 13. Above the lateral bores 46 the inner mandrel has a portion 49 of reduced internal diameter providing a downwardly facing annular shoulder 5l). A latch locking member 51 is slidably received within said reduced annular portion 49. The lock member 51 is enlarged below the shoulder 50, as shown at 52, to abut against the balls 47 and force them outwardly into the groove 48. A spring 53 abuts against the lower surface of the enlarged portion 52 of the locking member and against the upper end of the intermediate mandrel portion 40 and 3 urges the locking member 51 upwardly towards its locking position.

Above the reduced diameter portion i9 the upper member 39 of the inner mandrel i's provided with a plurality of downwardly facing internal ratchet teeth S4. A retrievin'grnember 55, adapted to be lowered by means of a wire line or the like, has a plurality od depending spring fingers 56, each of which has on its lower end `a plurality of external upwardly facing ratchetteeth S? whereby when the retrieving member E5 is lowered, the spring fingers 56 will enter within the upper end oi the inner mandrel and the ratchet teeth 57 will engage with the ratchet teeth 54 and permit the retrieving member to pull the inner mandrel up out of the outer mandrel i3 to the surface. The retrieving member has a depending central latch operating member 53' which is adapted to engage the upper end of the latch locking member Sl and depress the same against the action of the spring 53, thus depressing the enlarged portions 52 to below the location of the balls 47, permitting the balls to move inward-ly and disengage from the annular groove d8 in the outer mandrel and release the inner mandrel from the outer mandrel.

The lower end of the intermediate portion 40 of the inner mandrel 38 is counterbored as shown at 59. A choke `orifice 61 is inserted in the counterbored portion of the mandrel and seats against the shoulder 6d formed byv said counterbore. The lower portion of the inner mandrel is threaded into the intermediate portion and the upper surface thereof abuts against the lower surface of the choke member to retain said choke member in place. The inner mandrel is providedy with a plurality of lateral ports 62 below the choke member and between the O-rings 43 and d5, providing communication between the outer portion of the ymandrel 38 and a central passage 83' therethrough. Passage 3S is closed at its lower [and] end and communicates with the passage through the well string at its upper end.

Connected to the lower end of the intermediate mandrel 33 is a pressure recording device 63. The pressure recording Vdevice 63 may be `any suitable device designed for the purpose ofl recording pressures in oil wells. Fixed to the lower end of the pressure recording device is a battery compartment 64 containing a plurality of batteries pressed downwardly by means of a spring 66. The batteries 65 are connected by a connector 67, insulated from the battery case by insulation shown at 68, to a terminal 69 whichl is 4adapted to engage the terminal 37 on the upper end of the electrical conduit 35 when the mandrel 3S is properly seated in mandrel 13.

`ln the modication shown in FIG. 4, similar parts are given. similar reference numerals with the postscript a In this modification the upper end of the inner mandrel is ofyreduced external diameter and has a plurality of grooves in its external surface forming downwardly facing ratchet teeth 54a for cooperation with a retrieving member such as shown in FIG. 5. The retrieving member shown in FIG. 5 has a plurality of spring ingers 56a, each having `an inwardly facing shoulder Si'a adjacent the lower end thereof. The retrievingy member is also provided with a depending central portion 58a for engagement with the upper end. of the latch locking member 51a to release the latch balls 47a to permit the removal of the inner mandrel from lthe outer mandrel. It will be noted that there is no choke orifice provided in this modiication and that the pressure recorder 63a does not have the battery chamber and firing mechanism attached tothe lower end thereof.k The pressure recording device 63a may be any suitable device designed for the purpose of recording pressures in oil wells.

If itA is desired to make a flow test or shut-in 'test of a well havingy a tool such as is described herein already in place in the well, i-t is merely necessary to lower a mandrel such as 38a,4 shown in` PlG. 4,l to, perform the necessary test operations. and then the mandrel may again be withdrawn from the well.

The operation of the devicey is as follows: The device, with the inner mandrel 3S removed7 is lowered into the well by means of the tubing string l5. When the tool has been located in its proper position and the packer' properly set, the inner mandrel 38 is lowered within the string l5. When the inner mandrel 33 seats and locks within the outer mandrel yle, the terminal 69 engages the terminal 3d and fires the gun perforator 32 to perforate the walls of the well and permit the well fluid to flow into the penforated screen 31 through the packer assembly 5d into the housing l0.

When it is desired to take a flow test, the string l5 is rotated in a direction to place the ball 26 in the vertical portion of the J-slot 25 and the string is lowered to lower the outer mandrel relative to the housing l@ to lower the ports 2d out of the annular packing ring 22, The huid from the housing is `thus permitted to flow through the ports 23 into 'the central bore of the outer mandrel 13, through the ports o2. in the mandrel 38 into the longitudinal passage 3S', through the orifice 61, and through the well string l5 up to the surface. The pressure re corder d3, being loca-ted below the lower end of the outer mandrel, is exposed to the pressure in the housing l@ at all times.

When it is desired to record the shut-in or static presi sure oi the formation, the mandrel 13 is raised with respect to the housing lli and rotated to place the ball 2d4 in the horizontal portion of the .l-slot Z5 to lock the mandrel in the upper position, thereby moving the ports 2S up into the annular packing ring 22 and shutting off the fluidi flow therethrough.

After the Itest has been completed, the retrieving member 55 islowered down on a wire line (not shown). The portion 5b of the retrieving member contacts the upper end of the latch locking member 51 andv releases the lock, and the ratchet teeth 57 engage the ratchet teeth 54' on .the mandrel and the mandrel may be withdrawn from the Well without removing the 'tool body from the well. In this condition, with the inner mandrel removed, the well can be placed in production, since the removal of the inner mandrel leaves an unobstructed central bore through the device, or further operations may be carried out by inserting a ditl'erent inner mandrel having a proper configuration suited to the operation desired. For en ample, a mandrel such as shown in FlG. 4 would be used to make a flow test or shut-in test of the well pressure after the well has been put in production.

While we have shown the preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our] my invention, What @del E claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist l. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular' mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted.v to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement in either direction relative to each other, a sleeve fixed in said "housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closedy at its lower end adapted to be slidahly received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test ports in said inner mandrel in uid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel.

2. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted. to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement in either direction relative to each other, a sleeve fixed in said housing through which said,

.5 outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, and a pressure recorder' fined to the lower end of said inner mandrel.

3. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well.

Il. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said Outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in iluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, a pressure recorder fixed to the -lower end of said inner mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well.

5. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received 'within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer man drel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel.

6. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner' tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in uid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, and a pressure recorder fastened to the lower end of said inner mandrel.

7` A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which'said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well.

8. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubu iar mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a

vsleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel with said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, a pressure recorder fastened to the lower end of said inner mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well.

9. A well tool comprising a housing, a packe-r device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below the packer device, an electrically operated well perforating gun fastened to the lower end of said perforated screen, an electrical conduit connected to said perforating gun and extending upwardly through said screen and packing device, and having a terminal at its upper end, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in saidv outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received iwithin said outer mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test ports n said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports 'm said outer mandrel.

10. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below the packer device, an electrically operated well perforating gun fastened to the lower end of said perforated screen, an electrical conduit connected to said perforating gun and extending upwardly through said screen and packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means coni necting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, means lfor releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in iluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel,

and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel.

l1. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, a choke oriiice in said inner mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test por-ts in said inner mandrel being in uid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel,

12. A well tool comprising a housing, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, a choke orilice in said inner mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, test ports in said inner mandrel in Huid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, a pressure recorder `ixed to the lower end of said inner mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well.

13. A wel] tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means' connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in 4. its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, a choke oriice in said inner mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel.

14. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below said packing device, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and :adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to Ibe closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to .said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, a choke orice in said inner mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel, a pressure recorder fastened to the lower end of said inner mandrel, and means adapted to be lowered on a wire line for releasing said locking means and withdrawing said inner mandrel from the well. Y

l5. A well tool comprising a housing, a packer device fastened to the lower end of the housing, a perforated screen fastened below the packer device, an electrically operated well perforating gun fastened to the lower end of said perforated screen, an electrical conduit connected to said perforating gun and extending upwardly through said screen and packing device and having a terminal at its upper end, an outer tubular mandrel slidably received within said housing and adapted to be attached at its upper end to a tubing string, means connecting said outer mandrel and housing for limited longitudinal movement relative to each other, a sleeve in said housing through which said outer mandrel extends, test ports in said outer mandrel adapted to -be closed by said sleeve when said mandrel is in its upper position relative to said housing, an inner tubular mandrel closed at its lower end adapted to be slidably received within said outer mandrel, a choke orifice in said inner mandrel, means for releasably locking said inner mandrel within said outer mandrel for movement therewith, and test ports in said inner mandrel in fluid communication with the test ports in said outer mandrel.

References Cited in the le of this patent or the original patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,875,006 Humanson Aug. 30, 1932 2,214,551 Edwards Sept. 10, 1940 2,633,200 Humanson Mar. 31, 1953 2,667,926 Alexander Feb. 2, 1954 

